3-Dot Lounge: Few non-elite QBs win Super Bowl

(01-06) 17:53 PST — Alex Smith just completed one of the most efficient seasons in the history of NFL quarterbacking. Most players at his position, including some all-time greats, could only dream of throwing just five interceptions in a season.

The response has been something less than a standing ovation. There’s no doubt that coach Jim Harbaugh gets a ton of credit for putting Smith in the best positions to succeed, and that the 49ers‘ stifling defense has shielded him from a nightmare scenario – having to constantly throw deep balls to recover from a two-touchdown deficit.

The prevailing wisdom now, as the playoffs begin, is that there’s no way Smith can guide the 49ers past Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers, should it come to that. If you’re willing to agree that Smith still falls short of the elite, here’s a question: How many second-tier quarterbacks won a championship ring?

Not to denigrate any of those men, all of whom came through handsomely on the biggest stage, but we’re not talking about Joe Montana, John Elway or other true legends of Super Bowl lore. Just know that it can be done. The way the 49ers’ season has gone, even the craziest scenario seems feasible.

Marino forever

It was depressing to see Dan Marino‘s single-season yardage record surpassed by Brees, and then Tom Brady, but it reflects the nature of today’s NFL, where the evolution of rule changes has been so beneficial to quarterbacks. The memories linger, though. For sheer impact, nobody touches Marino in ’84. The average NFL quarterback threw 22 touchdown passes that year, and he threw 48, mostly on absolute rockets to Miami teammates Mark Clayton and Mark Duper. The release, the velocity, the accuracy, the whole package was mind-blowing, peaking in the AFC title game when Marino shockingly dismantled the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers. This, by the way, is why the 3-Dot ranks the ’84 49ers as the best team ever. In the Super Bowl at Stanford, they made Marino look like an untested rookie … Still can’t get over coach David Shaw‘s decision to shut down Andrew Luck on Stanford’s final regulation-time drive in the Fiesta Bowl, turning things over to a nervous freshman kicker. It’s common strategy, acceptable on the surface, but come on, man, show some style. In settling for running plays, designed mostly to get ideal field-goal position, Shaw dismissed everything he’s ever said about Luck, who was finishing off one of the greatest games of his career and deserved a couple of game-winning shots at the end zone. The most depressing consequence? If the Cardinal had won, and LSU loses to Alabama on Monday night, there would have been some No. 1 votes for Stanford in the final AP Poll … Most impressive event I watched while on vacation: Nneka Ogwumike leading the Stanford women past Pat Summitt‘s Tennessee team. Aside from her 42 points, it was the desire, the court sense, the inspirational qualities. What a precious gem … I don’t know who voted for Comcast’s top 20 Bay Area sports legends, and I don’t want to know, but the group needed a bit more seasoning. As much as we all love Tim Lincecum, he’s in mid-career and has no place on that list ahead of Pete Newell, who coached two of the most unlikely title teams in college basketball history: USF in the 1949 NIT and Cal in the 1959 NCAAs … Aubrey Huff says he’s back in great shape, but that’s not the point. The real hitters can find their swing if they’re tired, hung over or climbing out of bed on Christmas Day. Huff’s got lost, and it was never found. His own comment – “mentally in the toilet” – is more telling … Bill King got shafted again in the Hall of Fame voting for baseball broadcasters, but Tim McCarver was a most worthy choice. His best work, in the Mets’ radio booth from 1983 through ’98, earned him the honor … The Lakers and the man once known as Ron Artest played the Warriors on Friday night, and thankfully, that remains his name among most people around the NBA. According to the New York Times, “friends and family (in Queens) still call him Ron, or Ron-Ron.” Or if you remember the Crystals’ big hit in ’63, “Da Doo Ron Ron.”